Saturday night's showdown between Alabama and LSU was supposed to be another instant classic; the latest heavyweight fight under the lights in Death Valley between two SEC powerhouses.
Instead, it quickly turned into an eye-popping performance from Jalen Milroe that NFL scouts are certain to remember, and one that Garrett Nussmeier would love for them to forget.
After his dominant rushing performance in last year's win, the Bayou Bengals knew they had to contain Milroe's running ability if they wanted to get revenge this time around. They failed spectacularly in that mission, as Milroe racked up 185 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.
Milroe's final score was a 72-yarder on 3rd-and-long to start the fourth quarter, as demoralizing a moment as we've seen in all of college football this season. He didn't so much through the air (12-for-18, 109 yards), but there was never much of a need.
Nussmeier's night was rough, marked by two costly turnovers in critical moments that could have turned the game back in LSU's favor had he not handed the ball over to the Tide.
After a fourth-down stop in LSU territory late in the second quarter, the Tigers still trailed just 14-6, and had finally found some momentum. But Nussmeier fumbled the ball back to Alabama on the very next play, so instead of being down one score with a chance to march down the field and potentially tie the game, they quickly surrendered another Alabama touchdown and trailed 21-6 at halftime.
Nussmeier and the LSU offense responded with a 14-play, 71-yard drive to start the second half, getting the ball all the way down to Bama's 4-yard line. He was picked off in the end zone, and the Tigers never got back there until garbage time in a 42-13 defeat.
Those two opposing performances are sure to be noted by NFL scouts and decision-makers as they look ahead to the 2025 NFL Draft.
Milroe's consistency as a passer still needs work, but his rare playmaking ability as a runner could be enough to convince a QB-needy team to take a chance on his upside in the first round, with an eye on polishing his passing ability at the next level.
Nussmeier finished his night 27-for-42 passing for 239 yards and a pair of interceptions, his only touchdown pass coming in the final moments with the game well out of hand. He made a handful of solid throws throughout the night, but the turnovers loomed large in moments that could have easily led to a different outcome.
There's still plenty of time for both of these quarterbacks to impact their stock in either direction before next year's draft rolls around, but Saturday night's marquee matchup was a chance to give their best audition, and only one of them delivered.
Related: 2025 NFL Draft: Updated QB Rankings